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Ferrari boss makes it clear: the team comes first
Source: Agencies |
July 28, 2010, Wednesday
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FERRARI president Luca Di Montezemolo has told his Formula One drivers on Monday that the team "always comes first" in the aftermath of the passing row that erupted during the German Grand Prix.
The Italian team was found guilty of breaking team order rules and fined US$100,000 after Felipe Massa appeared to let teammate Fernando Alonso pass him to win the race on Sunday.
Massa led the race for 49 of 67 laps before he was passed by Alonso following Ferrari messages over the team radio.
Article 39.1 of the International Auto Federation (FIA) 2010 sporting regulations outlaws teams giving orders during a race. Ferrari says that the drivers arrived at the decision independently.
"The polemics are of no interest to me," Montezemolo was quoted as saying. "I simply reaffirm what I have always maintained, which is that our drivers are very well aware, and it is something they have to stick to, that if one races for Ferrari, then the interests of the team come before those of the individual.
"In any case, these things have happened since the days of (Tazio) Nuvolari and I experienced it myself when I was sporting director, in the days of Niki Lauda and not just then," added the Italian.
"Therefore enough of this hypocrisy, even if I can well believe that some people might well have liked to see our two drivers eliminate one another, but that is definitely not the case for me or indeed for our fans."
Additional sanctions could be imposed by the World Motor Sport Council though Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who sits on the body, appeared to back Di Montezemolo's view that the sport should be team-focused.
"All the cars have to be exactly the same, the drivers wear the same overalls, so everybody has to look like a team - a team of people that are racing," Ecclestone said. "I believe what people do when they are inside the team, and how they run their team is up to them ... nobody should interfere as to how they run their team. But of course if they do something that's dangerous then obviously they're going to be in trouble, otherwise get on with it."
The one-two left Alonso 34 points behind McLaren's leader Lewis Hamilton, with eight races remaining. Massa was left 38 points adrift of Alonso.
The Italian team was found guilty of breaking team order rules and fined US$100,000 after Felipe Massa appeared to let teammate Fernando Alonso pass him to win the race on Sunday.
Massa led the race for 49 of 67 laps before he was passed by Alonso following Ferrari messages over the team radio.
Article 39.1 of the International Auto Federation (FIA) 2010 sporting regulations outlaws teams giving orders during a race. Ferrari says that the drivers arrived at the decision independently.
"The polemics are of no interest to me," Montezemolo was quoted as saying. "I simply reaffirm what I have always maintained, which is that our drivers are very well aware, and it is something they have to stick to, that if one races for Ferrari, then the interests of the team come before those of the individual.
"In any case, these things have happened since the days of (Tazio) Nuvolari and I experienced it myself when I was sporting director, in the days of Niki Lauda and not just then," added the Italian.
"Therefore enough of this hypocrisy, even if I can well believe that some people might well have liked to see our two drivers eliminate one another, but that is definitely not the case for me or indeed for our fans."
Additional sanctions could be imposed by the World Motor Sport Council though Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who sits on the body, appeared to back Di Montezemolo's view that the sport should be team-focused.
"All the cars have to be exactly the same, the drivers wear the same overalls, so everybody has to look like a team - a team of people that are racing," Ecclestone said. "I believe what people do when they are inside the team, and how they run their team is up to them ... nobody should interfere as to how they run their team. But of course if they do something that's dangerous then obviously they're going to be in trouble, otherwise get on with it."
The one-two left Alonso 34 points behind McLaren's leader Lewis Hamilton, with eight races remaining. Massa was left 38 points adrift of Alonso.
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